Can We Get A Handle On Jeffries From This Footage?

We are looking at a 100+ year old grainy film that runs slow. Still you can pick up on a few things. Jeffries looks like a tank, but he was also a patient fighter.

In this case Jeffries had already hurt Ruhlin. He is is stalking mode, and shows he has pretty good footwork, a head and body attack, and the concept of cutting off the ring.

None of the old timers pre 1920 will have a modern look and feel of a pound for pound fighter, even Joe Gans. However we are talking about heavyweight here.

Jeffries certainly had durability, power, and stamina in the spades which are paramount at heavyweight. As such, he could over come lack of technique. Had Jeffries been born in modern times, he would adapt to the techniques of the times like a fish to water as he was a very good athlete. Jeffries full work out ( More than is shown on you tube ) verifies that he was in fact agile, limber, and skilled.

Stopping Ruhlin in 5 rounds, 1 round before Fitzsimmons is impressive. This film takes place in 1901. Jeffries improved his technique as the years rolled on.

 

All measurable sports have vastly improved including those like running and swimming that were around since the dawn of time. Even technique has improved for something as basic as running so boxing

Jeffries wasn't the most skilled of his time by any means though, he's almost a more primitive version of George Foreman or Max Baer, both being much improved

But as Frazier and others have said without these forerunners we wouldn't have developed the level that boxing is at today. They were all building the foundations of the sport.

 

old film is tough but he looks strong, quick execution, strong and aggressive, you can see how shot he was if you compare the Johnson film. Jeffries was one of the best of the time and did what he had to do with the tools & knowledge of his day...He looks like a force to be reckoned with

 

I'd agree with that .. to me he falls into the category of fight that could have been trained and excelled in modern day ...

 

I suppose it is good the fact you noted Jeffries was looking to counter against Sharkey. He was accused in that fight of easing up on the smaller man and didn't show enough killer instinct. Jeffries was a steady fighter. He certainly didn't fight as he looked, and that makes for something of a curiosity.

The impression I get is that Jeffries was quite basic in terms in what he did but executed everything with care, maintained good concentration levels for more than 20 rounds and was terribly strong throughout.

The training footage of Jeffries for Ruhlin does show him on his toes and looking rather nimble with weights in his hands.

 

I don't think Max Baer looks any bester or even close .. I could see this Jeffries pounding out Baer ..

 

I agree .. he was clearly an intelligent, methodical fighter ... he had said that he paced himself because of the scheduled duration of his bouts ..

 

No disrespect, but the guy in the film is so open to right hands, its embarrassing. Especially against a right hand puncher like Baer, who will be throwing it hard and often.

Perhaps Jeffries' posture changes if he has a guy in front of him who is scared and backpedaling, offering zero offense, but it looks like Jeff is looking for one big hook, which you can see coming a mile away.

How is he going to deal with someone who has the size and confidence in their right to keep tossing it?

It seems to me Baer would have a any hand festival on this guys head for as long as it took.

 

Well, basically we see Jeffries fighting in a unhurried but fairly steady pace. When Ruhlin is willing to meet him Jeffries is mainly focused on hitting Ruhlin back. Jeffries drops Ruhlin with a body blow. In the later stages of the round Ruhlin tries a bit to stay away, but Jeffries is generally able to close the distance and throw a punch in once he sees Ruhlin is no longer going to give him anything to counter. Jeffries isn't looking to do much infighting. I'll check apollacks 'In the Ring .... Jeffries' to see whether punching in the clinches was allowed in this fight.
The only thing I'd really fault Jeffries on was that he could have angled his motions a bit more to keep Ruhlin cornered. I don't think Jeffries felt any sense of urgency. It was a twenty rounder, there were fifteen rounds left, Ruhlin was going, he wasn't going to shake off his body beating, and there wasn't much on the punches coming Jeffries way (probably due to a combination of attrition and discouragement). Jeffries was content to steadily wear down Ruhlin, no drama, like a starfish wearing out a clam. It was enough to get Billy Madden (Ruhlin's corner) to stop the fight after the round was over.
In Ruhlin's defense: 1) Madden said Ruhlin wanted to keep going; 2) Madden had seen Fitzsimmons beat the holy hell out of Ruhlin -- for several hours after the Fitz fight Ruhlin's people were seriously concerned he was going to die -- and didn't want to see a repeat.